Askren: I’m the best wrestler in MMA, GSP not a good pure wrestler

“I’m automatically qualified for the (Olympic) trials,” four time NCAA All-American, and 2008 Olympian Ben Askren told MMA Fight Corner presented by FiveKnuckles.com. “So, like, I might show up for s—s and giggles but no serious training will go into it.”

“I’d say myself,” Askren said when asked who the best wrestler in mixed martial arts currently is. “Then Daniel Cormier. He would say himself though if you asked him the question.”

“Koscheck won an NCAA title but me and Daniel made the Olympic team. You got Mo Lawal, he made a world team. Koscheck would be up there. You got Johny Hendricks, he won two national titles. Phil Davis won national titles. As more and more elite wrestlers are getting into it, people like Koscheck kinda get moved down the list a little bit.”

“As far as GSP is concerned, I don’t think he is very good for a pure wrestler at all. What has he done to ever prove that? He never wrestled in any competitions. Yeah he has good MMA wrestling, but that’s not the same.”

“I think he’d have a significant advantage standing. But best scenario, I think I’d have the upper hand on the ground. I’d at least be able to hold my own.”

“I mean yeah, obviously it’s my goal to be the best fighter in the world and at this time the only way to do that is through the UFC. So yeah, I’ll be in the UFC and hopefully it won’t be that long.”

(Fighters like Thiago Alves and Anthony Johnson who fail to make weight are) “just cowards. They should bump up a weight class. What are you scared of fighting guys bigger than you? If you really, truly can’t make, say 170, you’re gonna be fairly good sized for 185. I mean I walk around anywhere between 183 and 187. And 170, I can make it and it’s not that difficult.”

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